Francois Gabart Wins Vendee Globe Race in Record Time

Warm Welcome -- Thousands of people packed the port of Les Sables dOlonne in western France to give 29-year-old MACIF skipper Francois Gabart a heros welcome, after he won the Vendee Globe round-the-world race. -- Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/Vendee Globe photo

By: Associated Press

LES SABLES D’OLONNE, France (AP) -- French sailor Francois Gabart has won the Vendee Globe round-the-world race in record time, shaving six days off the previous record held by countryman Michel Desjoyeaux.

The 29-year-old Gabart was the youngest skipper competing in the seventh edition of the sailing event. He crossed the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne in western France at lunchtime Jan. 27, in his yacht MACIF.

“At the start, I didn’t think I could win the race; I started to think I could in the Indian Ocean,” Gabart said. “I learned a lot about myself ... I pushed my limits.”

When Gabart crossed the equator on Jan. 15, he was already more than five days quicker than Desjoyeaux in 2009. Frenchman Armel Le Cleac’h and Briton Alex Thomson were in second and third positions, respectively, when Gabart crossed the line.

“The battle with Armel was settled in the Pacific. He really forced me to dig deep,” Gabart said. “The fact the race was so intense is also down to him.”

Gabart’s average speed was 15.3 knots, and he covered a total of 28,646.55 miles, spending 44 days, 20 hours in the lead.

Thousands of people packed the port in western France to give Gabart a hero’s welcome as he returned. He looked visibly moved and struggled to hold back tears as he stood at the bow of his yacht, waving back to the crowd.

“Everyone tells you about the fervor the race generates, but you just don’t realize it when you’re at sea,” Gabart said. “I made a lot of errors (in the race), but it’s no big deal. Humans make mistakes. You just have to bounce back.”

Twenty skippers started the race on Nov. 10.

“You’re never safe in this race: It never ends. It can all be over in a few seconds,” Gabart said. “That’s what makes the race so intense. I had that in my mind throughout the race. That’s why I am so emotional now.”